Friendship, Cooperation between Cambodia, Vietnam Continuously Developing

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: VNA

Leaders of Cambodia warmly welcome the visit by the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman, First Vice President of the Cambodian National Assembly Cheam Yeap told the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Phnom Penh in an interview ahead of the official visit of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will pay an official visit to Cambodia and attend the 43rd ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43) General Assembly in the country from November 19-22.

The trips will be made at the invitation of President of the Cambodian National Assembly and AIPA-43 Chair Samdech Heng Samrin, and President of the Senate of the Philippines Juan Miguel Zubiri, according to the NA’s Committee of External Relations.

Cheam Yeap said the visit of the Vietnamese top legislator demonstrates the importance of the cooperation between the two countries’ law making bodies and their traditional solidarity and friendship, which is growing in depth sustainably across all aspects.

He stressed that the visit would also contribute to further strengthening the comprehensive cooperation of the two countries.

First Vice President of the Cambodian National Assembly Cheam Yeap. Photo: VNA

The Cambodian legislative leader highlighted the close and all-sided cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam in recent years. On the basis of this good relationship, the two legislative bodies have signed a cooperative agreement, creating the condition for the two sides to exchange delegations, he said, citing as an example the official friendship visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking delegation of the Cambodian NA led by its President Samdech Heng Samrin in September this year.

Cheam Yeap thanked the people, Government and Party of Vietnam for financing USD 25 million for the building of the Cambodian NA’s new headquarters.

“I am delighted when the heritage of cooperation between the two NAs continues to be upheld and promoted by NA leaders at all levels,” he said.

The legislator stressed that Cambodia supports and appreciates the efforts of the two governments in completing 84% of the land border demarcation and border mark planting workload, and will push for the acceleration of the work towards promptly completing the remaining 16%, thus turning the two countries’ border into a border line of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Regarding the Bien Dong Sea issue, the Cambodian NA fully supports previous decisions of ASEAN as well as those made at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits which just concluded in Phnom Penh, including respecting principles of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1992), he said.

He went on to say that the Cambodian NA fully supports ASEAN’s viewpoint that peace, security and maritime safety in the Bien Dong Sea should be closely associated with a peaceful environment and development of the region, and that all arising issues in the East Sea should be handled based on international law, UNCLOS and ASEAN principles.

As for the AIPA cooperation, Cheam Yeap thanked Vietnam for its support of Cambodia as the host of ASEAN summits and the AIPA-43.

He welcomed Vietnam’s initiative on establishing groups of young parliamentarians at the previous AIPA General Assembly, adding that the work related to this proposal will take shape more clearly at AIPA-43.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said this will be the first trip to Cambodia of Hue in his capacity as the NA Chairman, and there will be a lot of things to come.

The Vietnamese and Cambodian legislatures have learned from each other, shared experience and exchanged visits, he said, praising the Vietnamese side’s donation to the Cambodian NA to build its new headquarters.

He also lauded Vietnam as an active member of AIPA, noting his belief that the country will make further contributions to AIPA as well as Cambodia’s hosting next week.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth. Photo: VNA

Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had returned to Hanoi on November 13 afternoon, concluding his official visit to Cambodia and his attendance at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.

During his six-day working trip, made at the invitation of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister and ASEAN 2022 Chair, PM Chinh had a busy schedule, with nearly 60 bilateral, multilateral and community activities.

During his official visit to Cambodia, PM Chinh held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen; paid a call on King Norodom Sihamoni; and met with Senate President Samdech Say Chhum and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin.

The two PMs attended the Vietnam – Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum. PM Chinh also visited several socio-economic establishments as the results of Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation, and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia.

Following the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, Cambodia will host the 43rd ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly from November 20-25.

Themed “Advancing Together for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN”, the 43rd AIPA General Assembly will be presided over by Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia and Chairman of the 43rd AIPA General Assembly.